Barn Owls

With the recent sad loss of Milo, we have had a slight re-shuffle with our Barn Owls. Now Twilight and Eclipse are housed in the Barn enclosure (they were originally in the aviary), and Alba has moved down to the aviary to join the remaining chick from last years clutch.

Now with our pair in the Barn, it means we have barn owls back on our camera. Hopefully more chicks will be hatched later this year and you will be able to see them develop on our camera in the coffee chop.

New Foxes Arrive at the BWC

After the sad passing of Marley, late last year, we have kept our eyes open for a nice young friendly fox to pair up with Biscuit. The original idea was to hand rear a cub from this year, but then we were asked if we would like a tame fox called Josh from Riverside Animal Centre.

Josh is a 6 year old dog fox who is very friendly, and not only does he come from the same place that Biscuit did. But he has also lived with biscuit in the past. This seemed like fate, and so yesterday saw the arrival of Josh to the British Wildlife Centre.

Along with Josh came a very old female fox called Dog. She is also very tame, and the London Wildcare Trust didn't want her left on her own. Being over 10 years she may well not last too long, but I am sure whatever life she does have here will be a happy one. We have re-named her Vixen so as to avoid confusion with the many school groups we take round.

You can see from the photos above, Josh couldn't wait to get out and about and explore his new home. Below, Vixen was a little shyer at first but soon settled in.

Be sure to come and meet our new residents soon. They are very friendly and would love to meet you.

2011 Photographic Competition

British Wildlife Centre, 2011 Photographic competition: Native & Natural

Today sees the launch of our new photographic competition. After last years success we have decided to run another competition this year, and have changed the format a little too. 

Instead of three competitions throughout the year, we now only run the one over the course of our busy season. However this is now split into six different categories. 

Animal Portraits

Animals in Motion

Animals and their Keepers

At home in their habitat

Artistic Interpretation

Junior

You may enter one, or all the above categories, but are limited to only two entries per category. Entries can be made email or at our flickr group in the relevant category http://www.flickr.com/groups/british-wildlife-centre

The winner and runners up of each category will be chosen by a judging panel made up by Centre owner, David Mills. Head Keeper and Centre photographer, Matt Binstead. And internationally renowned wildlife photographer, Andy Rouse. 

The winners and runners up of each category will be displayed for the following year in our Wildlife Photography Gallery in the reception centre, with links to photographers websites if requested.

The winners of each category will win a complementary family ticket to the Centre.

The overall winner, chosen from the 6 category winners, will win the fantastic prize of a 1-on-1 with the UK's top possessional wildlife photographer, Andy Rouse, here at the British Wildlife Centre. A prize worth £500!

The competition is open now, and is restricted to photographs taken here during 2011. 

Closing date is Friday the 18th of November, 2011. Photos will then be viewed and chosen over the Winter period before the winners being announced in early 2012.

Good luck to all who enter, lets make this competition as popular as last years!

For all the details of this competition please checkout out official website at www.britishwildlifecentre.co.uk 

Andy Rouse, Widlife Photographer and competition judge

Last years winner, Nigel Picknell